Sony Says United's In-Flight Music Violates Copyrights

By Kurt Orzeck

Law360, Los Angeles (October 23, 2013, 10:19 PM ET) -- Sony Music Entertainment and its subsidiaries are accusing United Airlines Inc. of willfully infringing thousands of copyrighted songs and music videos with its in-flight passenger services, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in New York federal court.

Sony alleges that its record labels haven't allowed United, which merged with Continental Airlines earlier this year, to use their songs and videos as part of the airline's interactive, on-demand service or its preprogrammed service. Sony says that, under federal copyright laws, the labels are owed $150,000 for each...